An Attempted, Deadline Poem About the 2016 Republican National Convention: “Charles In Charge?”

No Bushes to block my Tee Vee, but you know what’s worse?Charles in Charge [Scott Baio, formerly Chachi ] is speaking to the RNC—or is it the AARP?–in ClevelandBad 80s sitcom, speech to matchAn Iowa Congressman brags about white, Christian Western CivWhile Redneck Nation is crawling on all floors, yelling “Lock her up!”

Charles in Charge is the week’s themeThe first Trump-Pence logo had it rightIt’s gonna happen to the whole nation, without Vaseline(Here comes the Trump air-kiss!)“We Like Mike” is an echo to Tee Vee dinnersAnd black-and-white lynching

Trump: “I will be your champion. I am your voice.”Nothing new in Rotary Club bondingHe’s just Old School-direct about itLike his “Law and Order” hero NixonPassing out white lightsabersFear leads to anger, anger leads to hateHugging my Yoda doll real tight, because in real trouble, the world is

Ted Cruz, with his 20/20 AD visionGives Trump the fingerEnjoys the Doctor Doom actAccepts the Bronx CheerAnger about the family dis holds the iron mask in check

(And lookit Gingrich! Pulling out the Pooper Scooper!He should turn it toward his nose)

And since when could white people be denied the right to vote?The RNC floor was the most-pissed whites I’d seen since OJMeanwhile, black folks clean the conventionPracticing for the Subway Series election

White world unity left with the Colorado delegationAnd America is thinking about putting Charles in Charge?Pass me a nose-ring and a sign

*****

Malcolm’s sad-versus-mad is blowingblack So American now, we’ve left Fanon’s ideas to the disturbedTrained by the Eagle to see too well

No hope from the White MouseDone with Daddy O’s equivocatingShaking in front of the police instead of shaking the policeTime is running out for somebody to smack the black BACK ON HIMAnd you telling me that all I have to look forward toIs another four to eight of stay-the-course, just okay?

Half a cent from Black PowerAnd America may want Charles in Charge?Where’s my Cornel West scarf and dictionary??He says “The country is having a nervous breakdown”Maybe Jack, the old-school movie Joker, is right–This town [U.S.A.] needs an enema

*****

I’m looking to the New York Skylinefor the Stay Puft Marshmallow ManThat heralds the end-days And the beginning of the Duck Dynasty

Back in Cleveland, the NASCAR dads and scratch-off momsAre acting out the Alamo in front of my eyesThere’s a brief power outageAnd Capt. America is in the corner, cowering behind his shieldEven smallPOX News (*cough* demons *cough*) is implodingRoger Ailes—who pimped anchors into Rockettes—grabs his trenchcoat

New Jersey Gov. Krispie CreameThe Soprano Made GoodAte up well his Tee Vee primetime“Guilty or Not Guilty”—like a gameshow host(Has Trump pushed him into Stockholm Syndrome?)While back home, his aides cross a bridge to beg forgiveness in front of a judge and juryAnd Assata sticks out her tongue from Cuba